You Move You Die (2007 Video) User Reviews

A Unique Gangster Comedy

[wastebot · 6/10 · 30 March 2008]

While it's not a great film, it is close to unique, consistently fun to watch, and keeps you interested until the end. A crime-action film like Crank in some ways.

It's the light-hearted version of a film like American Gangster, and gangster films in general which almost always take a very serious thriller angle to the story. The difference here is you really don't realize you're watching a gangster film until near the end. You get some strong hints of it, but it's never clear.

This is the type of film that should get a best screenplay award. The beginning and end tie together perfectly, yet you never see the connection until the end. I probably should give it a higher rating for that alone, but it's not without a few annoyances. Very much worth seeing nonetheless.

Bang bang bang, thud thud thud; bang ...

[MarplotRedux · 6/10 · 7 May 2012]

I bought this as the third disc in a set labeled Thugs and Guns; that label applies especially well to this film. Either you like depictions of ruthless, insensitive violence or you don't. I do, but then I'm also a devoted fan of Cheld's Play's Chucky: Go, doll baby, go! Despite what another reviewer (birck) wrote, I found the camera work in this movie forceful, compelling in its through-the-eye-of-the-pep way. As the camera moves around, you do too. The movie's split-screen effects were distracting at first, but as I got more and more used to them, also quite effective. Yes, throughout most of the movie it was very, very unclear why the leads were doing what they were doing, but the explanation at the end was most satisfactory. Though unrealistic and unrealistically bloodless, the many, many action scenes were also well done. However, unlike my feelings toward Chucky, I kept hoping that the lead characters would each come to painful final ends. "Did they?" Gosh, would I write a Spoiler? One warning: over the years I've worked with several Australians. To be sure, the characters depicted are New Zealanders, but both drive on the wrong side of the street. Language used by the Aussies I've known is much more cooth than that of these Kiwi gentlemen, In particular, their use of the f word becomes monotonous, becomes vain repetition. This harms the movie; otherwise I'd have given it a 7,

You Move You Die, I was pleasantly surprised

[p_starr69 · 11 July 2007]

As always it is the complainers that are the first to comment. I personally thoroughly enjoyed the film. Surely a films aim is to entertain? Well this one did the job as far as I am concerned.

Has something similar been done before? probably but who cares, and without knowing how it was shot you (or at least I) couldn't even attempt to judge how innovative it is. All I know is that it felt very different to watch than most movies you will see. As for the comment that this genre is dead... what a load of tripe, this is not some Quentin T rip. It stands alone as an interesting story with some good twists and plenty of humour (assuming you like your humour fairly dry) Was it a low budget flick? almost definitely, does it look "cheap"? not at all. I think this is a breath of fresh air for the industry within NZ. And I firmly believe it is a good quality, entertaining flick.

Is it the best movie in the world? of course not... still I liked it better than at least one huge blockbuster I saw recently. Mind you some people apparently can't live without huge explosions and/or a festival of CGI! If you enjoy the flavour of the "british gangster" type flick, and like your humour dark and dry you will probably enjoy this film.

So go check it out you will probably enjoy it. Plus you are supporting genuine NZ film.. i.e. not financed from half a world away with the money and talent disappearing offshore the day it wraps. Oh and it might pay to watch to the end...

PS I can't wait to see what these guys can do with the next film and some cash support behind them!

Lock, stock and bottom of the barrel

[peepingtomcat · 1/10 · 1 August 2007]

Alas, Francis Ford Coppola was wrong. The digital camera revolution has not resulted in an explosion of talent gracing our screens. All it has delivered is the never ending glut of amateur material, posturing as cinema, that clog the shelves of video stores worldwide. YOU MOVE YOU DIE is a continuation of this never ending cycle of sub-mediocre, ego- driven and wholly wretched home-movies.

Suffering through YOU MOVE YOU DIE is like watching a gang of young schoolboys, inspired by a movie they just saw, playing Goodies and Baddies as they chase each other around the drab back streets of their boring small town. They play-fight and play-act, and do all things their parents would frown upon (like swearing and smoking). The jolly romp is all made up on the spur of the moment and after an hour or so, they're so darn tuckered out from all the tussling and screaming and pointlessness of it all, so they simply...stop.

Now imagine a group of age-retarded adult men in their thirties, doing the above. Yet sadder still, is their friend with a video-camera who's followed them around as they playact like little kids- bored during the summer holidays. Then afterwards, they all wearily (but satisfied and with much backslapping) go back home to endlessly watch themselves replayed on telly, over fizzy drinks and chips as they collectively fantasize about hanging out with Tarantino.

That pretty much sums up wrist-slitting banality that is YOU MOVE YOU DIE.

Inspired film with originality

[earthquake01-1 · 8/10 · 2 February 2008]

This is an obviously inspired film that isn't the usual predictable drivel that I see in so many films of this genre. It has a Taratinoesque quality to it but isn't quite so scattered brained as most of his movies are. The characters are interesting and personable and not over the top, and there are some genuinely funny moments. There is a little bit of bad acting but not from the main actors at all, just in some of the bit parts. The story line is very good and although there are some violent moments in the movie it wasn't at all gory or messy. Also, the camera work is really quite unique and there is a flow to it that almost makes you feel like you are part of the movie. I would think that a lot of other filmmakers will be trying to use this type of effect in upcoming movies. Overall I would give this move at least an 8 out of 10.

I've seen big-time expensive turkeys that weren't nearly as entertaining.

[birck · 7/10 · 12 March 2008]

It's not a bad job. The characters are convincing, even if some of the action isn't. If you can accept stylized, unconvincing violence (no blood anywhere), which I don't mind, the story has some new twists. The first two thirds seem a bit aimless, like Mean Streets down under, just a tale of four thugs who seem to have an appointment to keep in the afternoon, and manage to keep it, in spite of the befuddled police they have to deal with in New Zealand. It's funny; it could have been funnier, but for something I never heard of before a street vendor offered it to me, it ain't bad. The acting is generally acceptable; the camera-work is utilitarian. Technically, it succeeds in some ways, e.g., the steadicam work, but fails in others, e.g., under- and over-exposure, or their digital equivalents. The dialogue is in Kiwi, i.e., "english", but it would benefit from subtitles, also in English, as in The Harder They Come. It's worth noting that the vaunted technical achievement (long, uncut shots) was barely noticeable-which means that it did what it was supposed to do without drawing attention to itself.

Take if for what it's worth - a lot of bang for the buck

[untangledmind · 10/10 · 25 January 2009]

For a movie I had never heard of, this movie was a very enjoyable surprise rental at the video store. There are hints of Pulp Fiction humour, a touch of low budget El Mariachi, nods to Lock, Stock or Snatch, and a real crappy Toyota station wagon. Considering the violence of the film, there is no real gore or blooded to be seen. Think of it as a crime caper comedy that doesn't take itself seriously.

Some film students/critics may not love it, but ordinary people with open minds that enjoy a laugh with their crime caper will likely find it worth the time. It is reasonably polished for the reported $50K budget, throws in a twist or two, brings the laughs, and doesn't try to overwhelm you with it's "art".

I bought a DVD copy and recommend it often. I am looking forward to what they do with the sequel when they have a few more dollars to play with.

Unfair criticism

[cbi1969 · 7/10 · 16 June 2008]

I found this movie entertaining. From the reviews I've read thus far it seems I was one of the few who felt this way.

Many of the reviewers on this site have been jaded by the big budget Hollywood epic. The funny thing is that these same reviewers are the first ones to lament about the dearth of fresh ideas found in modern cinema.

I watch movies to be entertained, not to rush back to the IMDb forums to eviscerate the works of others.

I don't normally post my comments on IMDb, but felt this movie to unfairly criticized.

this wont win an Oscar but it won me over

[roger-hepburn · 10/10 · 5 April 2008]

this film is essentially a lark about by some guys from new Zealand and really that is all it is, I don't think when they made the movie the filmmakers were thinking that this was going to be a world wide blockbuster or an intellectual indie thought provoker they simply made a movie that they thought would be fun and hoped that others would as well. I watch movies that are better than this on paper every day- if you break films down to their component parts - but sometimes, just sometimes you enjoy a movie for the sheer fun it gave you. This movie doesn't have a 10 out of 10 script. this movie doesn't have a 10 out of 10 score. this movie doesn't have a 10 out of 10 cast. this movie doesn't have a 10 out of 10 director. this movie doesn't have a 10 out of 10 cinematographer. BUT.... This movie does give 10 out of 10 enjoyment!!

There are some great pieces of dialogue and some good set pieces, yes some of the acting is wooden and some of the action-fighting sequences are a bit crappy but they are still 10 out of 10 enjoyable.

Listening to some of the critics on this site and you would never watch anything.

DO YOUR SELF A FAVOUR SIT DOWN WATCH THIS WITH YOUR FAVOURITE POISON AND ENJOY!!

No it isn't Shakespeare or Polanski or Hitchcock or even Michael Mann it just fun.

Fast paced action with entertaining Tarantino style dialogue.

[ragabonds · 7/10 · 30 March 2008]

Don't let the fact that this film is low budget put you off. I know it's annoying to watch low budget films with it's shaky camera action (which you don't see that often in this film just a bit at the beginning with the bike), but the story line and the dialogue in this film makes up for the fact that it's low budget. The film moves at a fast pace and at no point was I bored. Now on the other hand if they had invested more in this film and shot it at a better location, I'd say this would be a pretty big hit. If this was picked up by a major Hollywood production house, I'd definitely give this film a 10/10. Thoroughly enjoyed the action and dialogue.

Funny

[gridproductions · 10/10 · 7 August 2007]

Loved it, pretty hard edged. Lot's of profanity. Not every bodies cup of tea I guess. Aimed squarely at the Playstation generation. If you like Grand Theft Auto then this film is right up your alley. I'm certain our mum will hate it. I doubt your dad will like it either, but if you're a young guy, and have a twisted sense of humor....rent it now. The way they made it is amazing, shot half the film in one day. Steadicam shots are totally amazing. Some takes are nine minutes long. Lead actors are all brilliant, the dialog's very natural, almost feels like adlib. That takes real talent. Dry Cleaners scene is legendary.

It was okay

[RumBug · 8/10 · 21 July 2007]

Evil? Err, okay, someone needs to get out more. The movie was okay in the sense that unlike all other New Zealand movies, it didn't try to dig into quirkiness that defines just about every other NZ movie out there - think genetically modified killer sheep. Watching it, I did get a little bored after about 30 minutes, but then I did a gear change and accepted it for what it was - a low budget, romp through Auckland, with some cheesy action and acting. The actors seemed enthusiastic, albeit quite wooden at times. There were a few laugh out loud moments - ie Mike making the chick disappear and the whole conversation in the dry cleaners - and there were some cringe moments as well - ie the scene with the kids mother. Watching an interview on TV, it seems that it was all done on a budget of $50,000. Yeah, it wasn't the best, and for a first effort action movie a little light on the action. Worth a watch if you are a Ketzal Sterling fan, from the days when he was doing High Octane - another cheesy product but TOTALLY appropriate for that market.

Exactly what it says on the packet but even more

[ajptonner · 10/10 · 5 March 2010]

I bought this film for nothing in a Chinese market and sat down to watch it. The only thing on the cover in English was the title. For the first ten minutes I was trying to decide whether this film had been made by some kind of movie school in the UK or not, but to my growing joy I was proved wrong.

Set in some town in New Zealand(Aukland maybe), the film is basically about a day in the life of a bunch of 'hard men/wise boys' out to get back something stolen from their leader in a mugging. The story has obvious flaws - but tell me one that doesn't.

The dialogue is absolutely spot on. This is how we really speak. At least the gentlemen I know speak like this "you're a knob jockey" being a fine example that comes to mind.

Upon close of the film I found I had come across a great bunch of characters and all in their own way likable and recognisable from my own experiences. The lead duo I thought were superb, and you can tell while watching the film they were enjoying themselves. It's all done with a great sense of fun and lust for life.

If you are interested in watching a well made film, full action, great dialogue, magic characters, funny as hell - and without the biblical references, social pap, bare knuckle fighting and blood (although Mr Richie does this well) political correctness, etc. etc. - then here it be. Marvelous work! Lets have another one.

Worth watching

[progen · 8/10 · 6 March 2009]

Pretty good movie overall in the sense that the story keeps moving and there's no soppy love scenes to slow things down. Acting was alright too and most of the actors / actresses were convincing. Ketzal's outbursts and coined phrases added that little bit of humour and if you just watched it at face value, you'd never have guessed the ending. Looks like this is a Quentin Tarantino or Guy Ritchie in the making. Just too bad he didn't come up with anything like this after. I've watched it a few times and will definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a 'light' movie or simply to find out what a knob jockey is.

Thoroughly enjoyed this.

[wrasse · 8/10 · 12 July 2010]

I wasn't expecting much from this film given the low ratings and was really just sitting back killing some time. However I was pleasantly surprised to find this movie very quickly became entertaining and humorous. Although it started a little slow, the pace picked right up and pulled me along with it. Rob and Mike worked well together and bought a real 'mates' feel to the movie. It isn't often I laugh out loud but the guys antics and banter had me chuckling all the way through. The twists and turns and situation comedies had me laughing out loud and I have come away with four new faces to look out for in up and coming movies. Thank you for an entertaining hour and a half and would love to see more from this crew. :)